What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wolcott has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

Hanover has the most affordable homes ($142k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wolcott	Hanover
People
Population	1,507Lowest	6,882Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±5.9Lowest 9% above U.S.	50.6±5.5Highest 30% above U.S.
	Hanover and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	18%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Wolcott and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	23%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wolcott and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below U.S.	$71,563±$9kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Hanover and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$221,300±$23kHighest 33% below U.S.	$141,500±$16kLowest 57% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,059±$118Highest 25% below U.S.	$993±$105Lowest 30% below U.S.
	Wolcott and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,930Highest 26% above U.S.	$2,881Lowest 8% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.7%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46.5%±22.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wolcott and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wolcott and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#196 of 484 in NY
School district	Wolcott School District	FORESTVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SILVER CREEK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	SILVER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.